J.B. Pritzker wins third term as Illinois governor

Democrat J.B. Pritzker is projected to win reelection for Illinois governor, becoming the first in the state to serve for more than two terms in over three decades.

The Associated Press called the race for Pritzker on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CST, the moment polls closed.

A rematch of 2022’s election, Pritzker had been set to cruise to victory over the Republican, former state representative Darren Bailey, for months; Cook Political Report marked the race as “solid D.” Bailey had attempted to portray himself as more moderate compared to his MAGA-aligned 2022 campaign, but voters didn’t buy it. Meanwhile, the Pritzker campaign highlighted the governor’s proactive responses to the Trump administration in his last term, especially with tariffs, partisan redistricting, reproductive rights and the misconduct of federal immigration officers in the state.

New to Prizker’s ticket is Christian Mitchell, a former deputy governor who is projected to now become the state’s next lieutenant governor. The current lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, is running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat this election.

Pritzker is slated to become the first Illinois governor to serve more than two terms since Republican Jim Thompson served for four terms between 1977 and 1991. He would also become the second Illinois governor ever to serve more than two terms. Pritzker is also heavily rumored to run for president in 2028.